Apparatus for securing compressed bales with wire.



No. 889,848. PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908. F. M. GIDDINGS.

APPARATUS FOR SECURING COMPRESSED BALES WITH WIRE. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23, 1907.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

A TTORN E Y.

PATENTED JUNE 2, 1908.

P. M. GIDDINGS. APPARATUS FOR SECURING COMPRESSED BABES WITH WIRE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m 88 F R m m W W A a m 0/ J T a A 7 6 5 Z L 6 a @%w 7 6 a M ,7 i a J 4 J w J 0 8 J W 5 l0 WITNESSES: (w/F ATTORNEY.

c vnrri ll ,3. a n i FRED M. GIDDINGS,OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS.

Application filed November 23, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2, 1908.

Serial No. 403,533.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED M. GinnrNos, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Galesburg, Knox county, Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Securing Compressed Bales with Wire, of' which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to apparatus for securing compressed bales with wire, and articularly to that type or class thereof w ich are em loyed as attachments to presses for baling a straw and similar materials or products of the field or factory and it is particularly adapted for use in connection with resses which are not equipped with a reel or ike device on which the balmg wire is wound I provide a simple, strong and reliable mechanism which may be manually operated and which will effectually secure the several flakes or portions of the bale from disunion.

A further ob'ect is to provide means in the em loyment oi which the securement of the enr s of the wire may be made at any suitable place at the'side of the bale.

A further object is to provide means whereby such securement may be made with great rapidit Another 0 ject is to provide means for instantly freeing the wire from the twisting and other mechanism after the bond or tie has been eliected, and for as quickly and readily moving the mechanism to another place'for the purpose of uniting the ends of another wire on the same bale, it being understood.

that a plurality of wires are generally required and employed on each bale.

Still another object is to provide for ready detachment or detachment of the parts of the device, either from each other or from the press.

Subsidiary objects will a pear as the nature of the invention is disc osed. v

To the above noted ends and objects it consists in mechanism hereinafter described which is adapted for attachment to an ordinary baling press of the type before stated, a

portion of which mechanism is in fixed relation with the con'ipression chamber of the press, and another portion ol'which has longitudinal movement with relation thereto and carries devices having vertical movement on those or with relation tothose last named.

Mechanism showing the structural features, arrangement, connection and mutual relationship of the several parts of my improvements, and the adjacent parts of a baling-press compression-chamber with which the improvements may be incorporated, is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective, portions of the supporting bolsters being broken away; Fig. 2, an end elevation, partly in section-and partly broken away, showing also a portion of a press-box; Fig. 3, a plan of the twisting mechanism, enlarged, showing the gate opened for the placement of the wire; Fig. 4, a detail, enlarged, a plan of the gate in closed position; Fig. 5, a detail, enlarged, a side elevation of parts shown at Fig. 4, the gate in closed position; and Fig. 6, an end view of part of the twisting mechanism.

. Reference being now had by numerals to the drawings just described, the same one indicating the same part in the different figures thereof, 1 indicates the compression chamber of an ordinary type of horizontal baling press having at each side a longitudinal o enin through which access may be had to t e has 2 in process of formation. Supported by bolts 3 or in any other suitable manner are bolsters 4, one near the median portion of the box and one near its discharge end, on which bolsters is mounted a track 5 running alongside said box.

The foregoing parts may be constructed in any suitable and preferred manner and need not be further herein described than to state that they support the devices comprising my improvements.

Adapted to travel back and forth on the rails 5 is a truck comprising flanged wheels 6 mounted on stub-axles 7 carried by inverted U-shaped beams 8, the feet 9 of which are turned outwardly and project beneath the rails to prevent displacement of the mechanism supported by said truck, the axles being connected'by trusses ,10 secured thereto in any suitable manner, and provided near their midlengths with upwardly extending arms 12 for a purpose presently explained.

' within easy The top portion 11 of the truck constltutes a platform'or table on which the tools and other appliances ordinarily "used about a bahng press may be conveniently placed. Endlong movement (to too great an extent) of the truck is prevented by the bolsters 4 in an evident manner.

An arch, 13, preferably of piping, is supported on the vertical truck-arms 12. A standard 14 is fixed at its lower end to the table and extends thence vertically to and is bent inwardly at a height a )proximating the highest point of the arch, W ere it is secured. A beam 15 provided at one end with a book 16 and at its other end with a movable counterweight 17 is fulcrumed near its midlength to the standar 14.

Fixed by cjrps 19 to one side of that one of the legs of the arch which 1s contiguous to the press is a rack-, ar 18, the teeth of which project in the. direction of the other leg of the arch and the purpose of which will be hereinafter set forth.

The securing mechanism proper is mounted on and carried bya carriage comprising parallel horizontal bars 19 straddling the arch 13 and rovided at their proximal ends with a hair e 20 and at their distal ends with an extension 21 slotted-journal-box 22, shown best at Fig. 3. The bars 19 are fitted with transverse-vertical uide-plate's 22, 23 in pairs,'--each of whidh pairs is equipped withconcave spools 24 at its ends, the'spools being closely fitted to roll on the corresponding faces of the distant leg of the arch 13 to prevent sagging of the carriage with relation thereto, while tipping of the arch on the track-rails is prevent- 'ed by the feet 9 before described.

Fixed near the forward end of the bars 19 is a plate 33 to which is secured a guide 34 through which passes thenose of a spring latch 35 which is ada ted to engage the teeth of the rack 18, its iieel beingconnected by a wire 36 to a hand lever 37 pivoted to the bars 19in such position and manner as to be grasp of the operator, as will be seen best at Fig. 2. passed beneath that ortion of the journal 31 which lies beneath tfie bars 19, and beneath a pin 39 seated in said bars, and its upper portion slipped over the. hook 16. A s ur wheel 30 is journaled on a bearing 31 fixe in any suitable manner to the rods 19, and is provided with an ordinary crank-handle 32.

A needle-bar 26 extends across the legs of the arch, its point projected a distance and adapted for engagement; with the material being operated and pivoted to 'a a casting 29 fixed to the upon, and its heel apertured ever'27 fulcrumed at 28 to table 11.

Seated to re olve in the journal-box 22 is a base-casting comprising a longitudinally slotted journal 38, slotted shoulder 39- 'and extende reducec' portion to which is fixed a" der, acap-plate 57 A rod or cable38 is.

' with the oard, 'its end hanging inion 39, slotted 40 on whichis fixed a latch-pin stop 41 and the apertured stationary member 42 of my wire-end separating, retainin and releasin device, the other members 0% which I shafi now proceed to describe.- A plate 43 is pivoted on the upper face and nearthe outer end of the base-casting and its free end rojected downwardly to form a sto 44 ig. 1,) which limits the movement of t e late in one direction to prevent its contacting the stationary member 42. Fixed by I'H'ei/S, not shown, to the plate 43 is a sheet metal frame co'mprising'a horizontal base portion 45, the ends of which are bent upwardly to form latch-holding'members' 46, 47, a verti- "cal member 48, and a horizontal cover 49.

The outer end of the member48 is extended to form a dividing-finger 50 Which' rojects, when the pivoted means just descried is in closed position, through the slot 51 in the vertica plate 42. An ordinary latch com- 53, s ring 54 and handle 55 is mounted, as herein efore stated, in the members 46- and 47. The mechanism indicated b numerals 43 to 55 inclusive shall hereina ter betermed a gate.

To hold the casting 1n place within the bearing 22 and to facilitate placement of the baling Wire within the slot 56 which extends longitudinally through said, bearing and ournal the pinion and the shoulprovided with a slot registering with the last'des'cribed one and the mouth 58 of which is greatly enlarged, is bolted on the end of the journal andforms a flange thereforl provided with a vertical pointj50-1s fixed to the lower portion of the bearing 22 by screws 61, see Figs. 1, 2 and'3.

The construction, arrangement, assemblage and disposition of the several arts of my improvements having been t us set orth, I shall now proceed to describethe operation of the device. It will be resupposed through the that a bale of material, already ormed, is in thepress-boxand a parting-block of ordiger, the parts of my improvements being in the relative positions shown at Figs. 1 and 3, gate thrown open. A len th of binding wire 62 is then (or later, if pre erred) placed in onthrough one of the usual chan nels in the arting block and the loop-63 which has 'al feady been formed at one of its ends, is dropped over the point60 of the --retaining-bar 59. Another wire is similarly placed in another channel in the parting free, but readily'ace cessible' to the operator. After sufficient charges of material to constitute a bale have been compressed, the free end of the first named wire will be brought around the bale, drop ed into the guide 58, thence through the s 0t 56, thence forwardly to and through the loop and thence, being first'drawn taut,

A loop-retaininbar 59.

nary construction between it and the plunas is the bale.

eeasea doubled upon itself into a substantially U- shape. The gate is then swung on its pivot (35 to a closed position, the linger spacing the members of thou-shaped portion (32, 66 a distance apart. The operator by grasping the crank-hamlle 3; -1nd turning the wheel 30 in either direction will cause the pinion 39 nith which it is in mesh to revolve with speed, and l.)eca use of its integrality with the other slotted members of the twisting mechanism its motion will be. transmitted thereto in an evident manner and the members of the U-shapell portion be intcrtwisted and inter locked with the loop (53. As shown at Fig. 2 the parts appear as in position-tor interloeking the ends of the upper wire; suppose, therefore, that .wire to have been secured as last described. The operator, grasping the handle 20 of the carriage and at the same time raising the free end of the lever 37 will withdraw the latch 35-from its engagement with the rack-teeth. The weight of the carriage is counterbalanced by that of the weight 17'; a very slight downward pressure on the handle will therefore lower the earriage "and all parts supported or carried thereby to position for securement of theends of the lower wire, in which-position it is instantly locked by releasing the lever 37. A further operation as last described, to lower the carriage, will free the loop from the point 60, whereupon a .reverse operation will place the parts in position for'securement of the first wire on another bale, it belng optional whether theupper or the lower one.

' In'rapid baring it is not convenient to acourately place the wires when positioning them in the channels in the parting-block.

In other words, the loop willsomet-imes be placed several inches further from' the end of the block than at bther times era-tor will by mean-sol the,lever thrust t e of the material bein baled, the truck and all parts of the device eing thus moved along W hen the, latter is ofsufiieient dimension theoperator can draw the wire very taut by reason of the loop being engaged with the hook or oint 50 and said loop forming a sort of pu ley on which to double and draw the free end of the wire.

Other ways than the one hereinbefore described may be utilized in placing the wire.

For instance, the quantity s'uflicient to form a bale may be compressed before the wire is inserted through the channel in the parting board. around the material,.th e loop dropped over the hook, the free end dropped into the slot 56, throughthe loop, thence backward and divided by the finger. It will be manifest that the traveling means may be manually moved to any desired position. v i

To ob viate delay or loss of time because of this, the o The wire is then brought entirely Should it be desirable to separate the truck from the arch and parts mounted thereon, it is quickly accomplished by remo 'al of the bolts secured to the former, whereupon the tubular legs of' the arch may readily be lifted from the truck extensions.

l/Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that. without departing from the essential spirit and scope, or sacrilieing any of the advantages thereof, it is 'susceptible of change as regards form, de-

cluding wire-twisting means ada ted to have both vertical and ongitudina movement with relation to the press-box.

3. Ina device of the nature described, vertically and longitudinally movable wiretwisting means, said means adapted to re ceive the last named movement from means actuated by the material being baled.

. 4. In a device of the nature described, vertically and longitudinally movable wiretwisting means,.said means adapted to reeeive the last named movement from means actuated by ineans acted on by the plunger.

5. In combination, a carriage, twisting mechanism carried thereby, a support for the carriage, means whereby it may have vertical movement in either direction with relation to said support, and means whereby the support may have horizontal movement.

6. In combination, a carriage, wire-twisting mechanism carried thereby, a support forthe carriage, and means whereby the latter may have vertical movement in either direction with relation to said support.

7. In combination, a carriage, wire-twisting mechanism carried thereby, a support meehanism carried thereby, a support for the carriage, means whereby the latter may have vertical movement in either direction with relation to the support, a counterweight for the carriage, and means whereby the carriage maybe ocked in elective position.

9. A devicetfi the nature described includp for engagement.

to tat first named.

the loo ed en of t wire-retaining and rel'easin vertical movementon the support, means for locking'the carriage in elective position, and a-track whereon all the fore oing elementshave movement longitudinailly of the compression chamber. v

10. The combination with wire-twisting mechanism, of means for rotating it, a carriage on which it is -mounted, a support therefor, a latch carried by the carriage, and a rack-bar with which the latch is adapted 11. The combination with wire-twisting mechanism, of means forrotating it, a carriage on which it is mounted, a vertical support on which the carriage has movement, a

' atch on the carria e, a rack-bar with which it is adapted for engagement, a needle adapted to be thrust into the material being baled, and a track on whic all of said elements are ada ted to move in a direction rectang'ularly 12. In a device of the character described, a radially slotted journal, a bearing'therefor, a pinion" rovided with a slot registerin with that in t e journal, a pivoted gate inc uding a wire-dividin fin er, and means for holding he baling wire. 3

13. na device of the character.- described, a baseincluding afradiallyi-slotted journal and pinion at one end. thereof and integral therewith, a radially slotted wire-guide fixed on the-end of the journal, a stationary -late at the other end of the base, and aim ing-' gate including aclosing member, a wireividing member and allatch, pivoted to the other end of the base.

1 1. In combination with a track'adapted' to be fixed to a baling press, a wheeledtruck, a supporting arch thereon, a-carriage adapt.-

ed to have'vertical movement on the arch,

said carriage includin guides, mechanism earned by t e bar, and a latch adapted twisting carriage, a rack carriage.

, my name inv for engagement assets therewith, whereby the carriagemay be locked in elective position. l

15. In combination with a track adapted to be fixed to a baling press, a wheeled truck, a'supporting arch thereon, a carriage adap'ted to have vertical movement on the arch, said carriage vincludin guides, twisting mechanism carried by t e carriage, a rack bar, a latch adapted for engagement therewith whereby the carriage may be locked in elective position, and a counterweight for the 16. In combination with a trackadapted .to be fixed to a baling press, a wheeled truck, a supporting arch thereon, a carriage adapted to have vertical movement on the arch, said carriage mcludin gu1des, tw1stmg mechanism carried by the carriage, a rackbar, a latch adapted for engagement therewith whereby the carriage may be locked in elective. osition, and a needle engaged: with a suitab e one of said elements and adapted to be thrust into the material being baler '17. In combination, a truck, a track on which it has horizontal movement, an arch supported on the truck, a carriage adapted to ave vertical movement on the arch, wire-.

twisting means including a pinion'journaled in bearings on the carriage, a spur wheel j ournaled on the carriage, adapted to impart rotatory movement to the pinion and there by to the twisting means, a counterweight for the carriage, a rack-bar, a spring latch.

connected to-the carriage and adapted for {engagement with therack, and means connected with the truck and adapted to engage the means being baled, whereby the truck will-receive movement onthe track.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed presence of two-witnesses, at Galesbur this 6th ay of November, 1907, H

l FRED M; GIIDDINGS. Witnesses:

CHAS. J. LAvaoN, H. M. BIoHARDs.

, in the county'and State aforesaid, 

